SHARDIYE NAVRATRI
SHĀRDIYE NAVRĀTRI Navrātra is one of the major festival of peoples of Sanātan dharma (religion) all across the world. ‘ Navrātra ’ is a Sanskrit word, formed by combination of two words ‘ Nav ’ meaning nine and ‘ Rātra ’ meaning night. The festival is dedicated to Goddess Durg ā and her nine forms that are worshipped every day starting from Pratipadā to Navami. The nine form of Goddesses are: 1. Shailputri 2. Brahmachārini 3. Chandraghantā 4. Kushmandā 5. Skandamatā 6. Katyāyani 7. Kālrātri 8. Mahāgauri 9. Siddhidātri It is considered as the best time to worship Ādi Shakti. There are 4 Navrātra in a Samvatsar (year). The 9 days from Pratipadā to Navami of Shukla-paksh (Waxing Moon period) of Sanātan month Chaitra, Āshād, Ashwin and Māgh are celebrated as Navrātra. Out of these 4 Navrātra, 2 are incognito and 2 are manifest. Rām-Navami comes at the end of Chaitra Navrātri and Durg ā -Navami comes at the end of Shā